2015 MLS Team Preview: Toronto FC
Toronto FC may have have had some pressure on them to perform last year after spending big money, but it was nothing compared to what will be expected of them this season. A newly renovated BMO Field and two new Designated Players may be the franchise’s last chance to turn things around. They’ve never qualified for the Major League Soccer playoffs and if Toronto can’t do it this season with the expanded playoff format, they never will.
Quick Numbers:
2014 Record: 11-15-8
Conference Standing: 7th Place
League Standing: 13th Place
Finish: Didn’t qualify for the playoffs.
Top Scorer(s): Jermaine Defoe (11)
Top Playmaker(s): Gilberto & Dominic Oduro (5)
Greatest Moment Last Season: Coming back against the Columbus Crew at BMO Field to win the Trillium Cup.
Key Players This Season:
Michael Bradley– Toronto FC was Bradley’s team as soon as he arrived last season, but he was officially given the reigns when the club made him captain last week. He was a big reason for the arrivals of Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco to BMO Field and will be a leader on and off the pitch throughout the season.
With the acquisition of Giovinco, Bradley won’t have to worry as much about creating plays up the pitch and can focus on playing in front of the defense. Last season, the lack of a creative spark and legitimate ‘No. 10’ really forced Bradley into playing a variety of different roles. Toronto management searched hard during the off-season to find a player of Giovinco’s skill set and quality, something the club desperately lacked in 2014.
Damien Perquis – This may be a surprising choice considering the club brought in the likes of Altidore and Giovinco, but anybody who watched this team at length last season understands how important picking up a quality central defender was for the Reds.
The Polish international brings a plethora of experience to Toronto’s back four and will make the ideal partner for former captain, Steven Caldwell. The team suffered heavily last year when Caldwell went down injured and youngsters Doneil Henry and Nick Hagglund were all that was left to shoulder the load. The acquisition of Perquis not only provides Toronto a pillar in defense but also cover if Caldwell gets hurt again.
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Key Departures:
Jermain Defoe – While the ‘bloody big deal’ experiment looked great to start, it quickly fell apart and became one big mess. Defoe is a top striker who has proven he can find the back of the net at will, but he was never the right guy for Toronto FC or Major League Soccer. His talent was matched only by his arrogance.
He has already shown that he can still deliver at the highest level, scoring twice for Sunderland since making the move back to the Premier League in January. However, Toronto are happy that Defoe’s time in the city is over considering it was full of controversy and mistrust. Defoe ended up being more of a distraction to the team than anything else and with the arrivals of Altidore and Giovinco, I’m not sure how much the Englishman will actually be missed in Canada.
Gilberto- The Brazilian was technically still a member of Toronto FC up until this morning. The club officially announced that the striker will join Vasco da Gama on loan until the end of 2015.
“This move was necessary in order for us to be roster and budget compliant for the start of the 2015 season. While necessary it also allows us to gain flexibility and options both today and in the future,” said Toronto general manager, Tim Bezbatchenko in a statement released by the club.
He had been linked with a move to Vasco da Gama for quite some time because he was training in Brazil with the club. Although he became a fan favourite and was loved by the media, he represents an experiment that went wrong with Toronto FC and was never current head coach, Greg Vanney’s signing. The writing was on the wall for Gilberto as soon as the club signed Altidore. The two prefer to play as a traditional ‘No. 9’ and it would be tough to find room on the pitch for both players.
The Big Question: Can Toronto finally get it right on and off the pitch this season to earn the franchise’s first ever playoff spot?
On paper, Toronto FC should not have any issues qualifying for the 2015 MLS playoffs. They have the highest payroll in league history with players like the aforementioned Altidore, Bradley, and Giovinco. However, if any organization could find a way to screw things up, it’s Toronto FC.
Last year, they began the season with their star player scoring a brace in Seattle to earn a win against the eventual Supporters Shield Champions. It all spiraled out of control pretty soon after though. The club and its fans are just praying that this year will be different and even after all the big name signings, many in Toronto are still very skeptical. 2015 will be an interesting year at BMO Field and whether the club is finally able to turn things around or not, it’s guaranteed to be an entertaining ride.